Knicks evading New York's championship drought. Other NY teams still waiting

The New York Knicks have won two games of the 2026 NBA Finals and in complete control of the series against the San Antonio Spurs heading into Monday’s Game 3 (8:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN).

New York is often regarded as the center of the sports world, with fan bases known for their passion and unwavering support. Yet despite the city’s prominence, championship celebrations have become hard to come by.

Los Angeles, Boston and Philadelphia are big city teams have been adding hardware. Not so for New York across many of its most recognizable franchises.

The last championship won by one of New York’s Big Four sports teams came in 2012 – 14 years ago – when the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.

Several teams from the metropolitan area have come close since then – but near misses have done little to satisfy fan bases that measure success by titles, not appearances.

With the Knicks now just two wins away from ending their own drought, it is worth examining the championship dry spells that continue to define New York-area sports.

The New York Giants are one of the NFL’s premier franchises, winning four Super Bowls and featuring arguably the greatest defensive player in league history, Lawrence Taylor.

Much has changed since the Giants defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. The organization is now on its seventh head coach since with now John Harbaugh tasked with leading the franchise back to contention. The Giants have also started 12 quarterbacks and made just two playoff appearances during that span, winning one postseason game.

Inconsistent offensive and defensive line play and front-office instability have contributed to the franchise’s decline. As the NFL has evolved, the Giants have struggled to keep pace.

A new era is underway – for better or worse – with Harbaugh and second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart leading a young roster. After moving several veteran productive players in exchange for younger talent, the Giants are attempting to build for the future. However, competing in a loaded NFC will present a significant challenge.

2009

Few franchises in professional sports are as recognizable as the New York Yankees. The Bronx Bombers have won 27 World Series titles, establishing themselves as one of the most successful organizations in sports history.

From Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig to Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, the Yankees have consistently featured baseball’s biggest stars. Despite making 12 postseason appearances and employing only two managers since their 2009 championship, New York has been unable to capture another title.

The Yankees reached the 2024 World Series but fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Since Rivera’s retirement, bullpen inconsistency and roster construction issues have repeatedly surfaced in October, preventing deeper postseason runs.

Entering 2026, the Yankees remain in contention in the AL East. However, with Aaron Judge sidelined by a stress fracture in his ribs, ending the franchise’s championship drought becomes a far more difficult task.

2003

The New Jersey Devils remained one of the NHL’s most consistent franchises following their 2003 Stanley Cup championship, but that success has faded over the last decade.

From 1990 through 2010, the Devils missed the playoffs only once and established themselves as one of hockey’s model organizations. They returned to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012, but since then have made only a handful of postseason appearances and won just one playoff series.

The franchise has struggled to find stability in goal since Martin Brodeur’s retirement. Injuries to key players, including Jack Hughes, and defensive depth concerns have also hindered the team’s progress.

Despite narrowly missing the playoffs in 2026, the Devils remain optimistic about a core led by Hughes, Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier. The biggest question moving forward remains whether they can find consistent goaltending.

Madison Square Garden has not hosted a championship celebration from one of New York’s major professional sports teams since the Rangers captured the Stanley Cup in 1994.

The Rangers were perennial playoff contenders throughout much of the 2000s and 2010s, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2014. While qualifying for the postseason has rarely been an issue, advancing deep enough to win a championship has proven difficult. The franchise has lost five conference finals since its last Stanley Cup.

A lack of consistent five-on-five offense has been a problem. Despite elite goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist and Igor Shesterkin, the Rangers have often struggled to generate enough offense to compete with championship-caliber teams.

The current core, featuring Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafrenière and Adam Fox, gives the organization reason for optimism. After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024, the Rangers remain positioned to make another run.

1986

Since winning the 1986 World Series, the New York Mets have become known for inconsistency and missed opportunities.

The Mets have reached the postseason only eight times since that championship, with successful stretches led by Mike Piazza, David Wright and Jacob deGrom. Despite those stars, sustained success has been difficult to achieve.

Late-season collapses have repeatedly derailed promising campaigns. Combined with pitching fatigue during several postseason runs, those shortcomings have prevented the Mets from returning to the top of baseball.

Under owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns, the organization continues to invest heavily in its pursuit of another championship. However, after a slow start to the 2026 season, the Mets face an uphill climb to avoid missing the playoffs for a second consecutive year.

Among the three NHL teams in the New York metropolitan area, the Islanders own the longest Stanley Cup drought.

After winning four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1980 through 1983, the Islanders remained competitive but have not returned to hockey’s biggest stage. Their closest opportunities came in 1993 and 2020, when they fell in the conference finals.

Offensive limitations have been a major factor in the drought. The Islanders have consistently ranked near the bottom of the league on the power play and have rarely featured elite goal-scoring talent, only housing one player since 2000 to score 40 goals in a season. 

Although they narrowly missed the playoffs in 2026, the future remains promising. With Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer helping lead the next generation, the Islanders hope to position themselves for another Stanley Cup run.

Few fan bases in professional sports have remained as loyal through decades of disappointment as the New York Knicks.

Since winning the 1973 NBA Finals, the Knicks have lost four Eastern Conference Finals appearances and two NBA Finals appearances. However, recent success suggests the drought could soon come to an end.

For decades, front-office instability and missed opportunities in free agency prevented the franchise from building a consistent contender. While stars such as Patrick Ewing and Carmelo Anthony carried the franchise at different points, the Knicks often lacked the supporting talent necessary to compete for championships.

Now just two wins away from ending the drought, the Knicks appear closer than ever. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns have emerged as one of the NBA’s top duos, and a championship could help restore New York’s reputation as a championship city.

Nothing has come easy for the New York Jets since their victory in Super Bowl III.

The franchise has reached the playoffs only 13 times since winning its lone championship and has lost four conference championship games. As of 2026, the Jets also own the longest active playoff drought among the major North American professional sports leagues.

Quarterback instability, coaching turnover and poor draft results have defined much of the organization’s history. The Jets have employed 20 head coaches since their 1969 championship.

Aaron Glenn is now tasked with changing the franchise’s trajectory. Whether the problems stem from ownership, organizational culture or years of losing, the Jets face a lengthy rebuilding process as they attempt to return to relevance.

Never

Of all the major professional sports teams in the New York area, the Brooklyn Nets own the distinction of never winning a championship (save 1974 and 1976 titles in the old American Basketball Association before that league merged with NBA).

The Nets have 24 playoff appearances and two trips to the NBA Finals – the formerly New Jersey-based team has at times assembled talented rosters but have struggled to translate that talent into postseason success.

The arrival of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in 2019 generated significant expectations, but injuries and roster instability ultimately prevented the team from reaching its goals, very similar to how the rest of the franchise’s history has gone. 

After consecutive seasons with fewer than 30 wins, the Nets remain in rebuilding mode. Head coach Jordi Fernández and general manager Sean Marks continue to reshape the roster around players such as Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton.

Five prospects the Brooklyn Nets could target with the No. 6 pick

The upcoming draft could provide another important piece as the franchise searches for a path back to contention.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Knicks evading New York pro sports championship drought